ISSS News 15 June 2009

An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York

1. I-901 SEVIS Fee Payments By Credit Card No Longer Being Accepted for Students From Certain Countries

Most international students and scholars are familiar with the federal I-901 SEVIS Fee, which is paid prior to the visa interview, for students and scholars making an initial entry to the United States. When first implemented, the I-901 SEVIS fee was $100. The fee increased in late 2008 to $200 for F-1 students, $180 for J-1 students and scholars.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued a warning about fraud involving the payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee by credit card on behalf of students and scholars from four countries; Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. The problem is due to third parties paying the I-901 SEVIS fee by credit card on behalf of an international student or scholar from these countries, but then, after payment, requesting through their credit card company that the fee payment be refunded. Many of these non-immigrant students and scholars have already received their visa from the U.S. Department of State. While some of them have already entered the United States and have reported to their educational institution or program listed in SEVIS, others have not yet entered.

Any request by the credit cardholder for a refund of the I-901 SEVIS fee payment amount made on behalf of the non-immigrant student or scholar under these circumstances is fraudulent. As a result of the increasing fraudulent refund requests, credit card payments are no longer being accepted on behalf of students or scholars from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

If an individual attempts to make a credit card payment on behalf of a student or exchange visitor from one of these countries, s/he will receive the following message when a credit card payment is attempted:

“The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is not accepting credit card payments at this time. Please remit your payment by cashier's check, money order or Western Union transfer. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation. If you wish to continue submitting a new payment please click here:”

The I-901 system will not let anyone pay by credit card on behalf of the students from the above countries. There is no option at this time for friends, family members, or institutions anywhere in the world to pay the fee on behalf of individuals who are citizens of Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya or Nigeria other than by cashier's check, money order, or Western Union transfer.

The Web sites www.fmjfee.com and www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/ contain more information on how to pay using alternative methods. For Western Union Quick Pay, any student or scholar from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria should print the appropriate instructions from the Web site Payment by Western Union Quick Pay and take his/her Form I-20 or DS-2019.

DHS is investigating any student or scholar for whom a third party may have obtained a refund of the SEVIS fee payment through their credit card company. In such cases, the immigration record of an initial entry student or scholar will be “flagged” so that the person is stopped at the US port of entry. The student or scholar will be given only a thirty-day stay to be in the United States and a thirty-day limit to pay the SEVIS fee. If the student or scholar is already in the United States, s/he will be given thirty days to pay the SEVIS fee. DHS has announced that failure to pay will result in termination of the individual’s federal SEVIS record, and possible arrest.

We remind our readers that this policy affects credit card payments of the I-901 SEVIS fee for students or scholars from only four countries. DHS will publish an announcement when the restriction is lifted.

In mid-May, during Commencement Weekend, there was a building fire at 150 Oak Street in Binghamton. The building was destroyed. Fortunately, the tenants escaped safely, but the fire consumed all of their possessions. Two BU graduate students lived in one of the apartments, and lost nearly everything in the fire.

Most students do not think about purchasing an insurance policy to protect their personal belongings, such as a computer, television, clothing, audio systems, small appliances, books, etc. But should there be a fire, some other kind of damage, or theft, it will cost a lot of money to replace what you no longer have.

Whether a student lives on or off campus, a personal property insurance policy will protect their belongings. Haylor, Freyer and Coon, Inc offers such an insurance policy for Binghamton University students.

To learn more about the policy coverage and obtain an enrollment brochure, go to:
http://www.haylor.com

From the menu listing in the left column, select “College Students.”
Once the next page loads, the menu listing under “College Students” will expand. Select “Personal Property” from the same menu listing in the left column (do not click on the photo icon of the woman under the words “Personal Property Protection”, as that icon is currently not working).

The personal property insurance will protect you from losses and damages due to:

The cost of the personal property insurance varies according to how much coverage you purchase. For example, a policy that provides up to $2000 in coverage will cost $65 for an entire year. A policy that provides up to $6000 in coverage will cost $130 for an entire year. These premiums are based on a $100 deductible. Choose a $50 deductible and add $5 to your annual premium. We hope you will give serious thought to purchasing such a policy.

During the Spring semester, a student in F-1 status visited the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to ask if there was any regulation that would prevent him from purchasing U.S. stocks.

The answer is that any international student with a U.S. social security number may purchase U.S. stocks. Given the current economic slowdown and the volatility of the U.S. stock market, this may not be a wise way to spend money at present, but there is no federal regulatory prohibition on stock purchases for international students.

Those who own U.S. stock should note that the company from whom you purchase shares of stock is required to report your capital gains (or losses) each year to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In turn, you must report these amounts on your annual federal (and if required) state income tax returns. The U.S. government will tax your capital gains. But, should you suffer a loss, you may be able to show the loss on your income tax return as well.

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